Dual pre-chamber piston bowl system

Abstract

In one embodiment, a combustion system for an engine is disclosed. The system includes a cylinder block that defines a cylinder bore and opposing pre-chambers located along a circumference of the cylinder bore. The system also includes a fuel injector located equidistant from the circumference of the cylinder bore that injects fuel in a direction perpendicular to a diameter of the cylinder bore. The system further includes a piston located within the cylinder bore that has a substantially conically shaped crown having fuel direction grooves that direct the fuel from the fuel injector towards the opposing pre-chambers.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A combustion system for an engine, comprising:
 a cylinder block that defines a cylinder bore and opposing pre-chambers located along a circumference of the cylinder bore; 
 a fuel injector located equidistant from the circumference of the cylinder bore that injects fuel in a direction perpendicular to a diameter of the cylinder bore; and 
 a piston located within the cylinder bore that has a substantially conically shaped crown having fuel direction grooves that direct the fuel from the fuel injector towards the opposing pre-chambers, the fuel direction grooves becoming narrower toward the pre-chambers, wherein the fuel direction grooves are formed at locations corresponding to the pre-chambers, respectively, such that the fuel injected by the fuel injector is directed through the fuel direction grooves to the pre-chambers on the circumference of the cylinder bore. 
 
     
     
       2. The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel direction grooves extend radially away from an apex of the piston in opposing directions. 
     
     
       3. The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel direction grooves include portions that extend substantially perpendicular to the diameter of the cylinder bore and portions that extend along the diameter of the cylinder bore. 
     
     
       4. The system as in  claim 3 , wherein the portions that extend substantially perpendicular to the diameter of the cylinder bore are curved. 
     
     
       5. The system as in  claim 3 , wherein the portions that extend along the diameter of the cylinder bore are curved. 
     
     
       6. The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel direction grooves are tapered towards the pre-chambers. 
     
     
       7. The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel direction grooves are offset from an apex of the crown of the piston. 
     
     
       8. The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel direction grooves include walls that are greater than ninety degrees apart. 
     
     
       9. The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the crown of the piston includes intake and exhaust valve cutouts. 
     
     
       10. The system as in  claim 9 , wherein the intake and exhaust valve cutouts are tapered towards an apex of the crown of the piston, and wherein the fuel direction grooves are tapered away from the apex. 
     
     
       11. The system as in  claim 9 , wherein the intake and exhaust valve cutouts are bisected by the fuel direction grooves. 
     
     
       12. The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder block defines a coolant jacket that at least partially surrounds the cylinder bore. 
     
     
       13. The system as in  claim 1 , further comprising spark plugs located within the opposing pre-chambers. 
     
     
       14. The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder block comprises aluminum. 
     
     
       15. A method, comprising:
 injecting fuel, by a fuel injector, towards a center of a cylinder bore; 
 redirecting, by fuel direction grooves in a crown of a piston, the injected fuel towards pre-chambers located along a circumference of the cylinder bore, the fuel direction grooves becoming narrower toward the pre-chambers, wherein the fuel direction grooves are formed at locations corresponding to the pre-chambers, respectively, such that the fuel injected by the fuel injector is directed through the fuel direction grooves to the pre-chambers on the circumference of the cylinder bore; and 
 igniting the redirected fuel within the pre-chambers. 
 
     
     
       16. The method as in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing liquid cooling to the cylinder bore. 
 
     
     
       17. The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the fuel is injected and redirected during a compression stroke of the piston.